"I can tell you that I understand you, my family must have drank water from the river Jhelum. Kashmiriyat, the culture and thought process must be in me too. When I come here, I feel like I am coming home," he said, while referring to his family ties to Kashmir and added that he had come with a message of love and respect.
Normal life remained disrupted for the 24th consecutive day due to the strike call given by separatists against civilian deaths during the protests.
Fake or exaggerated news against the forces and the administration are feeding public anger, often leading to violence.
Despite stray incidents of violence in the old city area of Srinagar, the main Muharram procession was carried out here peacefully on Sunday.
'If the virulence of COVID-19 has muted the toxicity of the BJP's communalism, it will be an example of good coming out of the pandemic,' notes Amulya Ganguli.
It will require a political and tactical genius to, first, assuage the hurt feelings of the locals over the denial of their state's privileged status, and then to accommodate the national objectives of integration and development as spelt out by New Delhi, points out Amulya Ganguli.
Compelling voices from the youth caught on both sides of the Kashmiri conflict.
"I am running for HOPE -- Humanity, Oneness, Peace and Equality," says Sufiya Sufee.
The army has quietly moved an entire brigade into south Kashmir to clear it of militants and protesters.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday expressed satisfaction over the recent statement by Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde wherein he had said that 'the state government would be taken on board over the revocation of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Last week's heavy snowfall seems to have affected electioneering in Kashmir. South Kashmir's Anantnag and the prestigious Srinagar constituencies go to polls on April 24 and April 30 in the five phased Lok Sabha polls in the state.
"The killing of Abdul Rehman alias Fauji Bhai alias Fauji Baba, a Pakistani national, is a big success for security forces as he was a master in assembling improvised explosive devices for JeM," Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar told reporters in Srinagar.
'Internal security of India has become a joke. The country's security is 'Ram-bharose'
The CRPF told the court that if the pellet gun option was withdrawn they would have to use rifles, causing more fatalities.
'We should give azaadi to Jammu and Ladakh from the domination of Kashmir valley politics,' suggests Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
As state agriculture minister Abdul Aziz Zargar inspected the parade, security vehicles obstructed roads leading to the stadium in order to thwart militant attempts to disrupt the function.
'As long as Pakistan exists, the situation will not stabilise and violence is bound to erupt from time to time.' 'Though not a final solution, a step that could help localise the abscess -- trifurcate Jammu and Kashmir state into three parts: Jammu, Ladakh and the Valley.'
The Chief Minister said the people of the state attached high expectations to a ceasefire announcement on the eve of the fasting month as was done in 2002 during Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's tenure.
Before the advent of militancy 15 years ago, Kashmir was popular with film-makers and tourists, but the violence that has now claimed more than 40,000 lives has damaged both industries.
Protests against the killing of four people in firing by Border Security Force personnel erupted across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday during which 40 people including 19 security personnel were injured in clashes, stone-pelting and cane-charge.
'I don't see people standing up against what is happening in Kashmir. I feel this clampdown can exist as long as the government wants it to.'
Uneasy calm prevailed in the Valley as the police continue to place restrictions in several parts for the sixth day.
Stating that incidents of militancy related violence in Jammu & Kashmir have come down by over 70 per cent in the past five years, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday asserted that gradual revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act will begin in his present tenure.
Please be mindful of your language so as to not hurt anybody's sentiments. Convince Kashmiris that the nation is with them.
Speaking at a tri-service seminar on the 1965 India-Pakistan war in New Delhi, Indian Army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag said, "The military needs to be ready for short wars, as the borders are live with frequent ceasefire violations and infiltration bids by Pakistan."
Here's a recap of the events from the past 24 hours.
Three persons were killed and six others injured in a firing at Qazigund in Anantang district of violence-hit Kashmir.
The situation is well under control and no untoward incident has been reported from any part of the district.
Some of the BJP panches and councillors who attended the meeting with Manoj Sinha said they were not impressed with what the new lieutenant governor told them.
Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd), former general officer in commanding, 15 Corps, explains what may have happened during the Indian Army's anti-terrorist operation in Kashmir in which four soldiers and one policemen, including the commanding officer 21 Rashtriya Rifles, made the supreme sacrifice for the Motherland.
New Delhi has repeatedly missed opportunities for political engagement in Kashmir in the past. It must seize the next one, says Ajai Shukla.
'It's not only what's been done politically. It's also the way it's been done. It's the suffocating atmosphere.'
What the ceasefire does is to show the supporters of violence in the Kashmir valley an alternative to militancy, argues Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
The move comes days after girl students were seen fighting pitched battles with security forces at Lal Chowk in the heart of Srinagar on April 24
With no signs of improvement in the situation in Kashmir, community schools are the only hope for students in the valley.
'The Indian middle class ignores the conflicts areas in Jammu and Kashmir, in Central India and in the North East.' 'The violence does not touch us at all and so we are able to easily look away from the underlying reasons and grievances.'
India on Thursday lashed out at Pakistan for "inciting and supporting" terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Anantnag police, however, said they were not aware of the incident.
My travels made me realise how different the ground situation and people's mindsets in the two states are. People seemed happy and secure in Tripura whilst there was only complaining and suspicion in J&K, says Sanjeev Nayyar.
Curfew was on Friday extended to several areas of Kashmir to foil a planned march by separatists to Eidgah in old city area as normal life continued to remain paralysed for the 49th consecutive day in the Valley in the wake of violence following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani last month.
